Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-07-14
HINTS TO EMPLOYEES.
The Only Practical Way of Learning the
Mysteries of ANY Business.

PcAl w CO'N'
could be of a greater mutual benefit
than some thoughts for those employed
in any way as to their relations with
those who hire them, and their duties
not only to their employers, but to
themselves as well. For an important
truth underlies the idea, often ex-
pressed, that every mans duty is first
to himself, and to those made dearer
than self by ties of nature and affec-
ton. The contract between employer
and employed can not bind the latter
to any act morally wrong, nor to do
what must result in moral or material
injury to himself.
Except for his services during the
time for which he has contracted them,
the hired help is, and ought to be indie
pendent. But it is equally true that
having once contracted these services,
the employe owes it to himself even
more than to his employer that they be
given faithfully. Few realize as they
should the effect upon ones own self
of always trying to do the best he can.
Most of our employees are young men,
and the method of doing things
handily and without waste of eff
fort will, when learned. last
them all their lives, and be of greater
advantage than they can now under
stand. One of the most successful
masters in the country used to relate
as the beginning of his prosperity that
he worked for a,,man, when young, who
had a peculiar knack in husking corn,
by which he easily turned off nearly
twice as many bushels as any one else.
He taught this knack to his employees
as far as they could or would learn it.
Some were mulish about it, and COM
planned that their boss was trying to
get too much out of them, and that
if he got the usual days work at husk-
ing he had no right to complain. Our
informant, who was afterwards sue
cessful ON his own account, thought
differently He reasoned that the rapid
but careful motion which wasted no
effort was good thing for any one
to learn who intended to practice here
after. The result was that he attained
skill in doing work which stood him
in stead of quite a considerable capi-
tai when he went into business on his
own account. His associates, who did
not wish to learn, preferring slower
and perhaps slightly easier methods,
became second-class help, soon grew
discouraged with their work, and never
tried to buy or own anything.
Much is usually said about the wrong
of eye service, as it affects the employ.
er; but as these thoughts are especially
for hired help, it is better to look al
this subject from the purely selfish
standpoint which an employe, careful
only of his own interests, might take
If hired help try to do just as little a.
possible, not only does this fact become
known, but it quickly forms habi
which can not easily be overcome
The conditions of success anywhere
are push, enterprise and desire to dc
all that is possible. Men who are ac
customed to hold back, fearing they
will do too much for their employer
learn slowness and hardness so thor
oughly that they can not drop thes,
habits even when they come to worl
for themselves. To work heartily ant
cheerfully for an employer is, we be
lieve, equally important for both par
ties; but if there is any difference, |
should be of greater Importance to tn
workman, whose habits for life are be
ing formed, rather than for the em
ployer, who, at the close of season, i
not before, may discharge the unfaith
full employe and hire another in hi
place.
To have and to feel this unity of in
terest in each other requires, good un
ilerstanding between the employer an
employed. No self-respecting hired ma
will consent to work for any consider
able time for a rough, brutal or pre-
fame master. Such are always hig
tempered, and apt to unduly exalt tn
importance of their position as EN-
ployer. No man can do his best
kept in a constant jangle of hot-tem
pered discussion. The man who say
he does not care what sort of an en-
ployer he has, so long he gets his pay
marks himself as only an indifferer
sort of employe. The hired man ougl
to care. He can earn more money fc
man with whom he is sure to be o
good terms, and it is his business ,
get as large a sum as he can for h
best service. If he can not work ha
moniously with his employer it is rigl
that either one should seek release frol
the contract as soon as the fact
learned, aud it will generally be be
for both that the relation be severe
before greater trouble ensues.
If employers took greater interest
J the character and thoughts of the
} hired help, it would be much better +,
both parties. Each can learn sem
thing from the other, and, in fac
} working for first-class master is tl
very best kind of apprenticeship whit
r a man can serve to learn the bushes
r This is really the only practical methc
of learning the mysteries of any bu;
ness, and each is presumed to ha'
! some points of excellence learned
| his own experience. Boston Budget.
4 An Irishman. writing to his wifi